18881: How to Conduct a Qualitative Restudy: Research Designs to Reevaluate Existing Theories

Monday, July 28, 2025

12:00 - 13:30 CEST (GMT+2)

Location: Bella Center: Hall B- B5-m4

Session Type: Symposium (panel)
Orientation: Research
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/ZK8gAK

Participant(s)

CW

Catherine Lynelle Welch

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland
TK

Tine Koehler

U. of Melbourne, Australia
MR

Maria Rumyantseva

U. of Sydney Business School, Australia
AW

April L. Wright

Warwick Business School, United Kingdom
DB

Daniel Beunza

Bayes Business School, United Kingdom
JL

Jane Kirsten Le

WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany
EC

Eliana Crosina

Babson College, United States
SC

Stewart R. Clegg

The University of Sydney, Australia

In this panel symposium we introduce qualitative restudy designs as the core vehicle through which qualitative research reinvestigates, reevaluates, and reinterprets prior findings and theoretical conclusions. We define a qualitative restudy as “an empirical study which is designed to enable systematic comparison with the original data, analytical results, or field setting of a prior study, as the basis for retheorizing.” (p. 33; Köhler et al., 2025). Restudies provide a powerful means to improve theorizing by revising or challenging existing theories that may have become outdated or obsolete or by meaningfully extending and adjusting existing interpretations. We provide a typology of qualitative restudy designs and explain key steps of this methodological process for researchers who consider undertaking a restudy. In a moderated, interactive discussion, panelists will share their experience of conducting restudies. We conclude the symposium with an audience Q&A of the method and its potential for theory revision and extension. The format of panel discussion helps audience members develop a better understanding of why and how they would conceptualize their own restudies.